נְדִיבָה
𐤍𐤃𐤉𐤁𐤄
nᵉdîybâh
H5082 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A disposition or quality characterized by nobility, generosity, or willingness; in context, it often refers to a free, generous, or noble act or offering. The term can denote the inner inclination to bestow freely or to act out of magnanimity, often in the context of voluntary gifts, offerings, or acts of generosity.
Semantic Range
nobility (of disposition), generosity, willingness, voluntary act or offering, free generosity, inclination to bestow, noble quality
Root / Etymology
Root נ-ד-ב (נדב), which has the core meaning 'to be willing, inclined, generous.' The feminine form נְדִיבָה (nᵉdîybâh) derives from this root and conveys the abstract quality or state of being noble or generous, or the act flowing from such a disposition.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נְדִיבָה typically refers to an act or disposition of generosity or willingness rather than merely social rank or nobility of birth. Unlike נָדִיב (nadiv), which may denote a nobleman or one of elevated status, נְדִיבָה reflects an inner attitude or the act of freely giving, especially in the context of offerings (e.g., Exodus 35:22, where gold offerings for the tabernacle are described as נְדִיבָה). Later translations sometimes render the word as 'soul,' but this reflects a tendency to read 'spirit' or 'mind' into contexts of freewill offerings, which can obscure the emphasis on volition and generosity. The term is more about the quality of willingness or magnanimity rather than one's public reputation or standing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of נָדִיב; properly, nobility, i.e. reputation; soul.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נדב (n-d-b) — willingness, generosity, voluntary inclination, noble disposition
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3122 | יוֹנָדָב | to Yahweh-is-generous |
| H5068 | נָדַב | in volunteering oneself |
| H5069 | נְדַב | they volunteered themselves |
| H5070 | נָדָב | Willing-One |
| H5071 | נְדָבָה | with a voluntary offering |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5082-01 |
נְדִבָתִ֑/י | nedivati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my honor | my generosity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5082-01 |
Job 30:15 | נְדִבָתִ֑/י | nedivati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my honor | my generosity |